Swim cap



Jan. 13, 1942. I H 2,269,868

SWIM CAP Filed Dec. 21, 1939 2 grwww I MAR/601.0 544/7 M V m 32 40114 @(Zam.

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Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWIM CAP Marigold Smith, Houston, Tex.

Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,369

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bathing or swim cap and particularly to a novel construction whereby the entrance of water to the hair of the wearer is prevented.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a swim cap which is effective to maintain dry the hair of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a swim caphaving an absorbent sealing material interiorly and adjacent the marginal edge thereof.

Another object is to provide in a swim cap an outwardly extending bead adjacent the marginal edge to form an interior groove within which is placed an absorbent material.

Still another object is to provide a construction of the type described including an absorbent material, which, when moist, serves to effectively seal against the passage of water to the interior.

Still another object is to provide a swim cap having an outwardly extending groove adjacent the marginal edge, a rib being provided at each side of such groove to form a seal with the head of the wearer whereby a closed pocket is formed.

Still another object is to provide an absorbent within a pocket or pockets within a swim cap to absorb any moisture that may pass beyond the outermost rib.

An illustrated embodiment of the invention whereby these, and other, objects are attained, is disclosed in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the swim cap shown in position on the head of the wearer;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2

illustrating the use of inwardly extending ribs, which, in cooperation with the head of the wearer form an interior pocket or pockets.

An illustrated construction of the swim cap embodying the invention comprises a hood or body portion I of waterproof material and preferably elastic, such hood having a marginal edge 2 which fits closely the contour of the head of the wearer when the cap is in place where it may be held by means of a band 3.

Intermediate the marginal edge 2 and the outline of the hair of the wearer, the body portion l is provided with an outwardly extending convex portion 4 which forms an internal groove 5 adapted to receive an absorbent material 6. This material may be of any suitable nature such as sponge, rubber, fabric, etc. It has been found, however, that a preferable material is chamo1s which acts as an absorbent but which also, when wet, is highly effective in forming a seal against the passage of water. It has also been found that in its preferred form, the chamois is plaited or braided, as shown at I so that there is intimate and uniform contact of the material with the head of the wearer.

The material 6 may be removably held in place by any suitable means, such as elastic strips I!) which are attached to the body portion l at the opposite sides of the groove 5. These strips lie closely against the head of the wearer and prevent leakage within such localized areas and releasably hold the material 6 in place whereby objectives of the invention are reached. The material 6 may therefore be readily removed from within the groove 5 for replacement or'for drying so that the cap may be maintained in desirable condition for use.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 3 is the same as that just described except that ribs ll integral with the body I project inwardly a slight distance from the interior surface l2 of the body I. The inner sides l3 of these ribs are a continuation of the generally cylindrical surface of the interior groove 5 and merge into the surfaces 14 which are adapted to engage the head in limited parallel areas to form an airtight pocket within which the absorbent 6 is placed. The outer sides of these ribs are concavely curved at l5 and merge into the generally uniform thickness of material of the body I.

The strips ID for holding the absorbent 6 in place are so blended with the material of the ribs I I that the-surfaces l 6 thereon are continuations of the surfaces [4 so that these surfaces present continuous contact surfaces for engagement with the head of the wearer as already indicated.

During use of the cap bodily movement may temporarily cause a break in the seal between ribs II and the head of the wearer in which case a small amount of water may enter the pocket. Such water will be readily absorbed by the material 6 which, as above explained, is desirably of such nature as to assist in maintaining a seal when wet.

While a specific construction has been shown and described, it is to be understood that such construction is merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is not confined thereto.

Broadly the invention comprehends a new and improved swim cap which is so constructed that the entry of water to the hair of the wearer is effectively prevented.

What I claim is:

1. A bathing cap comprising an elastic hood portion having its marginal edge adapted to closely fit the head of the wearer, an outwardly extending bead adjacent said edge forming an internal groove and extending entirely around the hood portion, and an absorbent material continuous within said depression to engage the head of the wearer and absorb moisture initially passing beneath the marginal edge of the hood portion and thereafter form a seal whereby the entry of water to the hair of the wearer is prevented.

2. A bathing cap comprising an elastic waterproof hood portion having its marginal edge adapted to closely fit the head of the wearer, a continuous outwardly deflected head portion adjacent said marginal edge forming an interior marginal groove, and a plaited body of absorbent material filling said groove and adapted to be held by the elasticity of the hood in engagement with the head of the wearer to prevent the entry of water to the hair of the wearer.

3. A bathing cap comprising a waterproof hood portion having a marginal edge adapted to closely fit the head of the wearer, an outwardly deflected head portion adjacent said marginal edge forming an interior marginal groove, a body of absorbent material filling said groove, and means attached to the hood portion for releasably holding said material within the groove, said last mentioned means comprising strips attached to the interior of the hood portion transversely of the groove to engage the absorbent material in the groove.

4. A protective device for the hair comprising a hood portion of waterproof material having a marginal edge adapted to closely fit the contour of the head of the wearer, an outwardly deflected head portion adjacent said marginal edge and forming an interior marginal groove, an interior rib on each side of the groove formed by said outwardly deflected portion forming spaced seals with the head of the wearer, and an absorbent within the groove to absorb any moisture which may pass beyond the outermost rib.

MARIGOLD SMITH. 

